CL has enough rice for 'gawat'

CABANATUAN CITY - About 2.4 million bags of rice arestored in National Food Authority warehouses inCentral Luzon, ensuring ample supply of the stapleduring the traditional lean months of June toSeptember, grains officials said on Thursday.

Engr. Nicolas Crisostomo, NFA-Region 3 director, saidthe volume strategically positioned in the agencywarehouses is even supplemented by 1.8 million bags incommercial sector.

He said that Central Luzon, a rice producing region,"is better prepared" for the anticipated tight supplyduring lean period. An inventory, Crisostomo said, showed that thepresent stocks that include private and households'will last up to 95 days based on daily riceconsumption requirement of 69,700 Bags.

Besides existing stocks, the food agency is stillexpecting to receive a tentative volume of 577,000bags of imported rice which represent the balance ofCentral Luzon as 2008 import allocation.

PANTABANGAN, Nueva Ecija - The Philippine movie's BadBoy, Robin Padilla, his fellow actor-brother and NuevaEcija board member Rommel, and other industrypersonalities made a pitch on campaign again globalwarming as they joined irrigation officials in atree-planting activity on a mountain range here onMonday.

Padilla who brought with him almost the entire castof the teleserye Joaquin Bordado where he plays thelead role, planted seedlings with Engr. Alex Coloma,manager of the Casecnan Multi-Purpose IrrigationProject wat the vicinity of the multi-billion pesoirrigation and power project.

He readily conceded on the appeal of a fellow actor tostop illegal logging activity.

Rommel who is the province's senior board memberhaving garnered the highest votes, said his brotherbelieves that the problem on global warming issomething to be addressed properly by all sectors."This is a problem which people from the governmentand elsewhere should help address," Rommel whorepresents Nueva Ecija's first district said.

Coloma said the project was supported by the officialsof the CalEnergy, a foreign consortium that undertakesthe build-operate-transfer portion of the project.Casecnan diverts water from Taan and Casecnan Riversin the tri-boundaries of Nueva Ecija, Aurora andNueva Vizcaya for irrigation and energy trough the26-kilometer underground tunnel to Pantabangan Dam, Reservoir.

Nueva Ecija police, businessmen agree on peace agenda

CABANATUAN CITY- Business leaders and the police  

hierarchy in Nueva Ecija vowed over the weekend to

work hand in hand in keeping sound peace and order

amid occurrence law infractions in some parts of the

country.

Jojo Cadiz, board chair of the Nueva Ecija Chamber of

Commerce and Industry, said local businessmen have to

protect their "limited resources," thus they need to

feel secure from law offenders, such as robbers. 

Cadiz said that no businessman has unlimited resources so they just use them "for maximum end."

For his part, Senior Supt. Napoleon Taas, director of the provincial police, said his office instituted

various steps to thwart criminalities, including those against properties.

With limited resources, he explained, the police implements the "where needed, when needed," and

conduct of anti-crime checkpoints.

He said that every Thursday morning, he sits with police officers from all over the province for two

hours, from 7:00 to 9:00 am, to discuss all intelligence inputs and peace and order assessment.

187,000 seedlings, target ng Cenro-Cabanatuan

Inaasahang maaabot ng Community Environment and

Natural Resources Office (cenro) ng Cabanatuan City ang target

nito na makapag-produce ng 187,000 seedlings ngayong

2008.

Ito ay matapos bisitahin ni Cenro Arthur Salazar ang mga

nursery sa kanyang hurisdiksiyon, lalo na ang nasa

bayan ng General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.

Ayon kay Salazar, ang mga seedlings na ito na karaniwang

mga kahoy-gubat ay kanilang ipinamamahagi sa taumbayan

para sa tree planting activities bilang bahagi ng

refrestation program.

Ang Cenro cabanatuan ay sumasakop sa mga bayan at

lungsod sa timog nueva ecija.

Professional lens peep through Nueva Ecija

Nueva Ecija is far different from what people from the outside see it, thus a group ofprofessional photographers finds.The president, Boy Samson, and members of the Societyof Portrait Photographers of the Philippines (SPPP) took several rounds of pictures of various tourism potentials some of which now loaded in the newly created website of the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (NEPPO).

Senior Supt. Napoelon Taas, acting NEPPO director, thepictures are featured in the website, along with thetraditional crime statistics and crime prevention tips.

Samson said they found a new face of the province with the tour.

Contrary to prevailingperception,he said, Nueva Ecija is one of the mostpeaceful and secured provinces to visit.

“All six of us went around unescorted in themunicipalities of Bongabon, Rizal, Pantabangan,Gabaldon, and Cabanatuan from April 18 to 20.

Thoseplaces offer some of the most picturesque locationsthat an amateur phographer would surely love tovisit." Pantabangan he said, is one photogs paradise. He agreed with Taas in saying that Pantabangan is practically "Tagaytay and Baguio put together." Launched Monday, the website of the Nueva Ecija PoliceProvincial Office, features the "beauty and serenityof a province that was once known for its violence."

Senior Supt. Napoleon Taas, acting director of theprovincial police, said the website also contains softmaterials on crime statistics and crime preventiontips but reveals the scenic spots and places of humaninterests in Nueva Ecija.

Congressional consultation on agriculture held in Nueva Ecija

The House Committee on Agriculture andFood vowed Monday to bring to Congress the sentimentsof Novo Ecijano Farmers, particularly their call touse National Food Authority fund in procuring locallyproduced palay instead of importing rice.

Palawan Rep. Ramon Kahlil Mitra, chair of the HoyuseCommitteee on agriculture and food, also said he willbring out the issue on alleged swine swindling thatsupposedly crippled a once strong women’s cooperative in the province.

This allegedly involvedthe government owned financing firm Quedancor.The concerns were raised during the consultativemeeting at the provincial capitol here which was also attended by farmers’ organizations and othersofficials, including Gov. Aurelio Umali, Reps. LeonilaChavez of Butil Partylist, Roberto Etsrella of Abono Partylist , Cherry Umali of Nueva Ecija’s 3rd district and Rodolfo Antonino, 4th district.

Assistant Secretary Dennis Araullo of agriculturedepartment , Dir. Redentor Gatus of DA Region 3 and Dir. Nicolas Crisostomo of NFA-Central Luzon andprovincial manager Edelino Alejandro joined the consultation.

Mayor's brod dies in road accident

RIZAL, Nueva Ecija - A brother of Pantabangan town mayor Romeo Borja was killed after a motorcycle collision caused by palay drying on
a national road here.

The victim, Danilo Borja of East Poblacion, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, was initially rushed to Dr.
Bautista Medical Clinic in this town for multiple injuries but had to be transferred to Cabanatuan City
due to the gravity of his condition.

Investigation disclosed that the victim was on his way to Cabanatuan City on board a motorcycle with license
plate RH 4103 when hit by another motorcycle driven by a minor.

SPO1 Ariel Alcantara, police investigator, said the minor who was running for Rizal took the wrong way
because of the palay being dried on the highway pavement.

village head shoots cop

ALIAGA, Nueva Ecija - A police officer was shot by a
village chair over an old grudge in this town the
other day.

The victim was identified as Senior Police
Officer 2 Antonio Manucot,41, detailed at Santa Rosa
Police Station and resident of Barangay Umangan here.

The suspect was barangay captain Rodrigo Dionisio of
the said place.

Reports reaching the office of Senior
Supt. Napoleon Taas, Nueva Ecija police director,
showed Manucot was in front of the house of barangay
councilman Primo Cabahil when the suspect suddenly
arrive and after an altercation shot the victim.

The cop had to cover himself inside Cabahil's house for
safety.

More offensive cops on the go

CABANATUAN CITY - "Mamang Pulis on the very doorstep of the criminals."

Senior Supt. Napoleon Taas, director of the Nueva Ecija provincial police office, ordered all the chiefs of the 32 police stations and directors of provincial mobile groups to take an offensive stance against wanted criminals as part of it "shift to second gear" of anti-ciminality campaign.

"Mamang Pulis will be on the very doorstep of the criminals, their lairs," Taas said saying the next few days will be marked by more aggressive servings of arrest warrants and massive manhunts where no stone will be left unturned.

Taas said that of 295 rrest warrants issued by the court in the last 70 days, 140 have effectively been effected by the various police offices in the province. That he said, is for na average of two wanted persons arrested per day.

These arrests, Taas said, should send signal to other criminal elements that they have no place in Nueva Ecija. He expressed belief this would also deter crimes.

The command maintains 40 personnel actively visible everyday, he added.

Nueva Ecija: Umali challenges "Mamang Pulis"

PALAYAN CITY - Gov. Aurelio Umali yesterday challenged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to immediately solve the murder of two aides of one his most trusted men at the Capitol Thursday night.

“I challenge PD (Provincial Director Napoleon) Taas and Mamang Pulis to work towards the immediate solution of this case,” Umali said in an interview.

Motorcycle-riding men gunned down the two driver-escorts of Umali's top man, Dr. Reymund Sarmiento, acting head of the provincial affairs monitoringoffice (PAMO) a few meters away from his residence.

Taas said that Roy Malijana, driver-aide Sarmiento died on the spot while Michael Pritanio expired at theto Paulino J. Garcia Memoria Research andMedical Center (PJGMRC) in Cabanatuan City.

Investigation showed the victims were in Poblacion, Sto. Domingo town at about 8:30 p.m. when fired at by unidentified men.

Ecijanos rush for affordable rice

With Novo Ecijanos rushing to get kilos of affordable rice, the National Food Authority (NFA) in the province has set up Tindahan Natin outlets right on the doorstep of its warehouses in the province.

NFA Central Luzon Director Nicolas Crisostomo and Provincial Manager Edelino Alejandro, meanwhile, personally supervise deliveries of the staple to intended market.

Josons charged; 'Pure harassment', says former guv

PALAYAN CITY – The provincial government of Nueva Ecija, thourgh an acting division head, has charged five members of the influential Joson family of graft before the Office of the Ombudsman over the donation of a number of heavy equipment to various local government units early this year.

In a complaint filed by Dr. Raymund Sarmiento, officer-in-charge of the Public Affairs Monitoring Office (PAMO), the respondents were identified as former Gov. Tomas Joson III, his son and now Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson and Quezon town Mayor Eduardo Basilo Joson and former Guimba town Mayor Jose Pocholo Dizon, son-in-law of incumbent 1st district Rep. Eduardo Nonato Joson.

The other respondents were Bongabon Mayor Amelia Gamilla, Board Member Cesar Cucio, former Mayor Marvin Martin of San Leonardo and former provincial board members Bella Aurora Dulay, Jose Bernardo Yango, Cesar Eduardo, Leonardo Garcia and Allan Gamilla.

But Tomas III said the complaint was a plain harassment by the incumbent administration even as he clarified no money is involved in the graft charges.“

Pag sinabi kasing graft, akala ay may nagnakaw. Sa kasong ito, walang kahit isang sentimong sangkot,” Joson said in an interview.Sarmiento sought the preventive suspension of the incumbent officials pending the outcome of the investigation by the anti-graft body.

Vice Gov. Edward was named respondent being a member of the provincial board which approved the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution 37-A which provides for the donation of the heavy equipment to the towns of Quezon, Bongabon, Guimba, San Leonardo and Talugtog.

In the complaint Sarmiento alleged that the respondents violated Section 3.e of RA 3019 when it passed on January 22,2007 the resolution authorizing Tomas III to donate the heavy equipment to the above-mentioned towns.

The complaint claimed that the respondents, in the “malevolent and reprehensible” performance of their official functions conspired with evident bad faith to “seriously prejudice, if not totally paralyze” the then incoming administration of Umali, in the process giving unwarranted benefits to the respondent mayors.

Tomas III said that the donation was part of the government’s program to upgrade the provincial engineering by acquiring more new heavy equipment and donating the old ones to LGUs that lack them. The plan, he said, was hatched as early as 2006.The resolution was apparently approved January 2007. “Noong panahong ‘yon ang alam naming magiging gubernador ay si Boyet (his younger brother Mariano Cristino),” he said.

He said he knew fund sources to finance the procurement of new equipment.Questioning the propriety of charging him for implementing a board resolution, Tomas III also wondered why even the recipients were charged.

Among the heavy equipment donated were seven units of heavy equipment to the municipality of Guimba; six units of heavy equipment, Tomas III’s Ford Expedition and a Nissan Terrano to the town of Bongabon; five units of heavy equipment, the provincial mobile clinic, a Toyota Revo, a Ford F150 and a Nissan Urvan to the town of Quezon. Then followed with six units of heavy equipment to the municipality of San Leonardo consisting of three units of Isuzu 10-wheeler truck, one Mitsubishi Road Grader, one PHH Komatsu Excavator and one Komatsu bulldozer.

PNP, Army vow to finish insurgents in Ecija in 2 months

CABANATUAN CITY - Government security forces in Nueva Ecija have set a "next level" drive against insurgency as its officials signed over the weekend an agreement the spelled out actions to have the province free of rebels in the next two months.

Senior Supt. Napoleon Taas, Nueva Ecija police director, and Army Lt. Col. Gilbert Gapay, commanding officer of the third Mechanized Infantry Brigade, both expressed belief that local government units can take the lead role against the insurgency by June 2008 because the internal security is settled by then.They signed the memorandum of agreement at the provincial police headquarters here Friday.

Police chiefs fron various stations such as Cabanatuan City, and the towns of San Antonio, Jaen, San leonardo, Sta. Rosa, Zaragoza, Aliaga, Quezon and Licab also gined the MOA along with officers from the police's elite 307th and 309th Mobile groups.

The MOA proveides for an intensified joint police-military operations against the insurgents operating within their respective area of responsibility, particularly at the provincioal boundary. T
he 3MIB holds jurisdiction over Eastern Nueva Ecija and Tarlac.Both the police and the Army will man checkpoints to pursue internal security operations.

Central Luzon rice stocks sufficient

CABANATUAN CITY - With a total of stocks inventory of 4.5 million bags as of date, which is 46 per cent higher than that of last year, the rice market can feed the people in the seven provinces of Central Luzon for at least 67 days, ahead of the peaking harvest season.

National Food Authority Regional Director Nicolas Crisostomo said that last year, the inventory of this same period was placed at only 3.1 million bags. The stocks represented those from the NFA warehouses, traders and households.

The increase, he said, can be attributed to the governments stocks that from only 182,800 bags in its r warehouses for the same period last year, is now at 1.5 million bags.

"This is due to the prudent management of stocks during the last quarter of 2007 and the early arrival of our partial imported rice allocation for 2008," Crisostomo added.

Besides the warehouse inventory, Crisostomo revealed, around 2.2 million bags of imported rice will be allocated to Central Luzon this year. Of this volume, 403,000 bags from Vietnam have already arrived at the Subic port via two vessels. The balance of 1.8 million bags will arrive in the coming months.

On top of them is the expected production from the harvest that peaks this summe for which the food agency has posititioned itself for aggressive procurement at support price of P12.00 per kilo, including incentives in order to add up to our buffer stocks in anticipation of the coming lean months in the 3rd quarter.

The stocks, he said, are strategically positioned in the seven provinces of the region with 1,5000 accredited outlets to ensure the availablity in the market of the P18.25 per kilo NFA rice. The grains are repacked in one and two-kilogram plastic bags.

Meanwhile, Crisostomo asked NFA provincial managers to deploy their monitoring and "Palengke Watch" teams that will oversee the grains trading operations in their areas. "We will make sure that NFA rice will be visible and available in all public markets" he said.

Moreover, he reported that they are now in the process of sanitizing and revoking the existing passbooks of all their retailers in response to President Gloria Arroyo’s directive to purge the industry of unscrupulous traders.

Aside from the food agency’s regular rice distribution operations in public markets, the NFA also prioritizes the provision of rice to outlets under the hunger mitigation program of the government such as the Food for School program, Tindahan Natin and Tindahan sa Parokya.

Nueva Ecija: Military general is now a Sultan

Barely seven days to go before bowing out from the military service, a testimonial parade and review has been accorded to Mgen Juanito P Gomez, Commander, 7TH Infantry Division, Philippine Army early Monday morning of 17 March 2008 at the Grandstand, 7ID. The testimonial parade and review, is a traditional way in recognition and honor for the outgoing 7thID Division Commander for his meritorious, loyal and dedicated service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines as a high ranking official.

Major General Gomez’ accomplishments of all his mission could be attributed not only to his capability to formulate and execute strategies and plans during his stint as a Division Commander, 7TH ID from 11 September 2006 to February 2008, but most importantly is his unique leadership his highly ethical conduct with the masses has significantly in promoting civil military operations.

There is also an awards giving during the said ceremony for those deserving officers and units at 7th ID, categorized as follows: Command plaques has been given to BGen Manuel E Mariano Jr, Assistant Divison Commander, 7ID; BGen Rommel A Gomez, AFP, Commander, 703rd Bde and to Chief Master Sergeant Manuel T Ayon Ayon, Division Sergeant Major. For the military merit medal awards goes to Maj Esmael Mama, Cpt’s Ramir Rodesendo, Chamberlaine Esmino and Lieutenants Evangeline Manzolim and Evangeline Espanola. Also Certificates of Appreciation has been given to twenty-three (23) officers and Certificates of Appreciation for the units of 702nd and 703rd Bdes; for the Division Infantry Battalions like, 3IB, 24IB, 48IB, 56IB, 69IB, 70IB, 71stIB and other units inside post.


The 7ID Commander during his speech said that he owed the success of his military career on the trust and confident the Army and AFP leadership entrusted to him through his numerous significant positions including the prestigious task to lead the 7th Infantry Division in September 2006. As he took the challenge with great faith, he convey that honor and tributes also is a credit to all of the officers and men of 7ID whom cooperation and support during his stint contributed most to his success.

Meanwhile, according to Major Fernando Los Banes, the 7th Infantry Division Spokesman, MGen Gomez being an adopted son of Islam religion was enthroned as Sultan a Masiricampo sa Pilipinas immediately just after the Testimonial parade and review held at the Multi Purpose Hall, 7ID It’s Sultanate will confirmed at Mindanao State University on 01 April 2008. He said that he is proud for his enthronement as Sultan a Misiricampo sa Pilipinas… and he thanks his brothers Moslems. Gomez said that religion is not a hindrance for peace. Being raised in marawi, a muslim community and his tour of duty in Mindanao as a military officer it has led to his conviction the advocacy for peace facilitating for a peaceful interaction between the christians and the Moslems.

4 kinasuhan sa pagpatay ng dating Ecija BM

CABANATUAN CITY -Sinampahan na ng kaso sa Nueva Ecija Prosecutor's Office ang apat na suspek sa pamamaslang kay dating Board Member Rodolfo Lopez.

Ayon kay Senior Supt. Napoleon Taas, acting provincial director ng Nueva Ecija police, ang mga kinasuhan ay sina Benito Hipolito, Lito Flores, Evelito Flores at isang hindi pa nakikilala.

Sinabi ni Taas na ang kaso ay isinampa batay sa dying declaration ng biktima kung saan sinabi nito habang lulan ng ambulansiya sa kanyang asawa at anak na si Flores ang bumaril sa kanya.

Lopez, dating pangulo ng Association of Barangay Captains at kagawad ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan ay dating kapitan ng Barangay Pulo, San Isidro. Bago napaslang, siya ay consultant sa pagawaing bayan ni Rep. Rodolfo Antonino ng ika-apat na distrito ng Nueva Ecija.

Lopez, 52, ay pinagbabaril matapos dumalo ng Misa sa San Isidro Parish Church sa Barangay Poblacion, San Isidro, bandang ika- 7:40 ng gabi noong Sabado.

Ayon kay Taas, nalutas ang kaso sa loob ng 48 oras.

Malawakan naman ang ginagawang paghahanap ng mga otoridad laban sa mga suspek.

800 ex-rebels embrace development program

LUPAO, Nueva Ecija - About 800 members and symphatizers of the communist-led New People's Army took their oath of allegiance to the Philippine flag in this "once most organzied guerilla stronghold," on Tuesday.

This as the mass organization formed as a result of several months of military's special operations in northern Nueva Ecija towns, was turned over to the municipal government by the Army's 71st Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Melquiadez Feliciano to the municipal government headed by Mayor Richard Ramos.

The mass organization is the umbrella group of the rebel returnees from various villages formed into economic clusters as facilitated by the Army in coordination with different government institutions such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian reform, Land Bank of the Philippines and the local government units.

Of the returnees, Feliciano said, 25 were regular armed members of the NPA while the rest served as the mass based of the movement who provided services, food, monies and intelligence information that made it strong in the past.

Nueva Ecija: Umali to veto budget

PALAYAN CITY- Gov. Aurelio M. Umali will veto the P1.07 billion 2008 budget approved by the provincial board which is over P325 million short of the proposed P1,400,117,806, a ranking official said on Thursday.

The official said the budget cut was detrimental to the interest of Novo Ecijanos since the slashed amount was intended for basic social services as well as education and health programs.

Based on the transmittal made by Sangguniang Panlalawigan secretary, lawyer Bembol Castillo, the Appropriaton Ordinance 02-2008 allocated P1,074,613,945 out of the general fund of the province for this year.The SP used the phrase “set aside and transferred to un-appropriated balance” for the proposed amount that are not approved. It also stated in some cases: “subject to later appropriation upon justification of its utilization..”

Of the P325 million slashed from the proposed budget, P84 million was for the capital outlay of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office while P50-million was for Special Purpose Fund and P21 million intended for intelligence fund and confidential expenses. The SP also withheld budget for the maintenance and operating expenses of the Civil Security Services, Provincial Action and Monitoring Office, the Provincial Engineering Office and radio dwNE.

The official noted that the budget slashed from the PSWDO are for financial assistance from the provincial government such as mortuary and social services.The scholars who actually first availed of the support under the previous administration will also be adversely affected, he said. The province has about 5,000 scholars, it was learned.

Nueva Ecija's most wanted falls

The long arms of the law has caught up with the Nueva Ecija's most wanted man who got to ellude arrest for over 10 years, a suspect in the striong of murder and frustrated murder charges in connection with a land disipute in Gapan City, police said on Thursday.

Senior Supt. Napoleon Taas, officer-in-charge of the Nueva Ecija police office, the suspect Patricio Quiambao,60, was arrested in the mountainous village of Pita, Dinalupihan, Bataan by a composite team from the police's regional intelligence division under Supt. Pierre Bucsit, the
Nueva Ecija provincial intelligence branch led by Chief Insp. Alex Mariano and Bataan 303rd provincial mobile group.

The arrest, he said, was made on the strength of a warrant issued by Gapan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 36 Judge Arturo Bernardo. Taas said the suspect's arrest was in line with the directive of PNP Chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. and Region 3 police director, Chief Supt. Errol Pan to focus more on manhunt operations as outlined in the “Mamang Pulis” program.

Nueva Ecija employment program intensified

PALAYAN CITY: The provincial government of Nueva Ecija intensified its employment drive using a program that matches job applicants and prospective employers called “Trabahong Una ang Mamamayan sa Abroad at Lokal na Industriya.”

The Provincial Manpower and Training Center (PMTC) under Emmanuel San Juan and the Provincial Employment Service Office spearhead this program.

Under the scheme, the PMTC will maintain a databank of skilled and semi-skilled applicants from all over Nueva Ecija and the industries that need workers.

Once the databank traces compatibility between the job applicants and the prospective employer, the provincial government through the PMTC matches them. There will be no fees to be paid to the government, San Juan said.

The program was launched in a simple ceremony led by Gov. Aurelio Umali, third district Rep. Czarina Umali, Nueva Ecija Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council President Vicky Gaetos, Nueva Ecija Chamber of Commerce and Industry head Kenny Bansale, as well as representatives from various learning institutions and industries.

Umali said the program would spare Novo Ecijanos from falling prey to illegal recruiters. This will also avoid problems between the employer and employee due to mismatch of skills and job placement. --Armand M. Galang/The Manila Times